Tramway-switch.



No.- 7l6,244. Patented Dec. l6, 1902.

J. w. KEEFER.

TRAMWAY SWITCH.

{Application fixed Aug. 30. 19021 (NqModeL) 254 'HIHEZB In: norms PETERS co, womumm wAsmvuu-mmo. c.

. -UNITED STATES PAT NT OFFICE.

JOSEPH W. KEEFER, OF VOORHEESVILLE, NEW YORK.

T RAMWAY-SWITC H.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 716,244, dated December 16, 1902.

Application filed August 30, 1902. Serial No. 121,665. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH W. KEEFER, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of Voorheesville, Albany county, State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tramway- Switches, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to tramway-switches; and the object of my invention is to construct a switch-operating device for use in con nection with railway tracks and readily controlled from the platform of a tram-car, with means for adjustment to provide for the difference in length of throw. I accomplish these objects by means of the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a plan view of a portion of a carframe and a switch embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the device shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a perspective of the bed-plate P and attachments. Fig. 4 is a perv spective view of the regulating-bolt V. Fig.

5 is a plan of the shoe S. Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the shoe S.

Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

In the drawings, A represents a railwaytrack, A a branch track, and B a switchblock pivoted at its rear end in line with the main track and movable at its forward end, so as to form either a continuation of the main track or a guide to direct the car onto the branch track. The cross-bar E is secured at one end with block B, at its other end by means of an adjustable bolt V with the shifting block D, which is pivoted at one end by means of a pin a to the plate P.

The sides or edges of the shifting block D are inclined outward from its pivoted end, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3.

The cross-bar E is adapted to fit within a suitable groove e and is provided with a bolt V, having a wedge-shaped head adapted to H, as shown in Fig. 2.

quired.

I show by dotted lines in the platespp' the fastening-bolts F F, which are used for attaching the plates 10 p with bed-plate P. Along the edges of the bed-plate P, I arrange a guide G, having openings therein to allow the water to escape from the plate P.

For the purpose of operating the shifting block D, I arrange a shoe S, which is preferably pivoted to one end of the lever H, the other end of said lever being preferably pivoted to the forward portion of the platform of the car, as at J, said shoe being normally held out of contact with the rail by means of the spring K, which has one end attached to the platform of the car and the other to the lever H, as shown in Fig. 2.

For the purpose of placing the shoe in contact with the rail I arrange the pedal L, adapted to engage when pressed downward with a suitable bearing Z, which is preferably a trumpet-mouthed cup attached to the lever I arrange on each side of the car a lever I-I, shoe K, and its attachments, as hereinbefore described.

The shoe S is preferably made as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, a portion forming the heels, of laterally-extending steel strips, capable of elasticity, the heavier portion at the toe first striking the shifting block D, the elastic portion 3 fully engaging on one side with the guide G, and the other with the shifting block, thus assisting in the operation of the switch.

By arranging the .lever carrying the shoe at the forward part of the platform and extending backward therefrom I provide for a pull on the shoe after it reaches the track, which is very desirable in the successful operation of a switch.

By the use of myinvention the platform of a car is not effected by wrenching or otherwise by the operation of the switch. By providing as I do for the pull of the shoe from the front of the platform a much more effective means for operating the switch is provided than by any device with which I am familiar. of the cross-bar with a shifting block, thus I also provide for the adjustment making it possible to use one set of plates for any switch, regardless of the length of the throw required.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a tramway-switch, a bed-plate; a shifting block pivoted thereon; a cross-bar adapted to engage with the shifting block; a

means for adjustably connecting said crosshold said shoe 01f the track; with a pedal, 20 substantially as described.

3. In a tramway-switch, a car provided with a lever pivoted thereto; a shoe having laterally-extending elastic guides pivoted to said lever; a spring attached to said lever, and adapted to hold the same normally off the track; a pedal adapted to force said lever in contact with the track; a bed-plate; a shifting block pivoted thereto; a cross-bar; a

30 bar with said shifting block, substantially as described.

Signed at Albany, New York, this 26th day of August, 1902.

JOSEPH W. KEEFER. Witnesses:

FREDERICK W. CAMERON, LOTTIE PRIOR. 

